State Farm vs. Western National: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Western National offers slightly cheaper rates than State Farm
• State Farm offers more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
• Western National offers less expensive average premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

State Farm vs. Western National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to State Farm or Western National, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Western National is about $4 per month more affordable than State Farm.

But that doesn't mean Western National will necessarily be cheaper than State Farm for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and a variety of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of State Farm or Western National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

State Farm or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Farm and Western National compete against each other in four states, with State Farm offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in South Dakota, Western National is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. State Farm is the cheaper option in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Western National save more than $45 a month compared to those who use State Farm.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for State Farm policyholders reduce over $200 and Western National's prices drop nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Western National gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $109 per month compared to State Farm's $111. However, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your credit score or your driving record.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the winner for single drivers, with rates about $8 per month more affordable than State Farm, on average.

State Farm vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men generally pay more for car insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Typically, women see rates around 7% a month less with State Farm, and almost 10% less with Western National when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Western National comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 2% less for men and 3% cheaper for women.

State Farm or Western National: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are many different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Western National offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability insurance, while State Farm has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $40 with Western National Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $30 less expensive with State Farm.

Is State Farm or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Western National insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but State Farm policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

If you have a clean record, State Farm tends to offer the best premiums at around 13% cheaper, while Western National has the edge for drivers with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Farm drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under $30, while those who have insurance through Western National will see about a $0 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Western National, with monthly prices averaging $154 compared to State Farm's $163.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, State Farm will increase your premiums around 25% after a DUI, while Western National's average prices climb by 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Western National tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $154 monthly compared to $179 from State Farm.

How does Credit Score Impact State Farm and Western National Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive prices.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Western National for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 15% compared to State Farm, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from State Farm -- about $9 or 8% cheaper than Western National each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $6 less with State Farm than Western National, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $22 per month with Western National.

Is State Farm or Western National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly prices. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

Looking specifically at State Farm and Western National, State Farm is the more affordable option for people who work from home, while State Farm has better premiums for those with short commutes. Western National average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $1 more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about $8 more with State Farm over Western National.

State Farm vs. Western National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Western National normally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while State Farm wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $31 with State Farm compared to Western National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $34 less with Western National compared to State Farm. In urban areas, Western National Insurance Company's average premiums are around $8 less than State Farm.

State Farm vs. Western National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts State Farm and Western National offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

State Farm blows Western National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Western National's 12.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Farm also offers ABS discounts, annual mileage discounts, drive safe & save discounts, and more that Western National does not.

On the flip side, Western National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is State Farm or Western National Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You're looking for the best rates in IA, MN, SD, and WI.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

State Farm might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between State Farm and Western National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just State Farm and Western National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State Farm vs. Western National FAQs

Is State Farm or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Western National is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $154 a month compared to $158 for State Farm. But Western National won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are lots of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, State Farm or Western National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do State Farm and Western National offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Factors such as age, where you park your car, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both State Farm and Western National calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if State Farm or Western National is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be State Farm or Western National at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.